SETTING: Late 14th century, in a town in England just outside London.
CHARACTERS: Mostly the same personalities, all about eight years older than in the AGU series.
(Kimi's journal)
Dear journal,
My mother, the Empress of Japan, has shipped me off to England to be married. When I was young, I'd imagined England as our worst enemy. To secure the peace treaty between our countries, I'll be marrying some prince or other. I've never seen a portrait of him. I'm writing this entry in a carriage going through a small town on the outskirts of the city, on the way to the palace. The carriage jolts to a sudden stop.
(reality)
"Ouch!" Princess Kimi looked out the carriage window. A figure lay on the gravel road, just near the wheel. She opened the door and stepped out to inspect the injured person. "Are you hurt?"
A boy of about eighteen with messy brown hair answered, "Yeah...just leave me here, I'm fine."
Kimi called for her maid, who was sitting on the back of the carriage. "Keiko, move this boy off the road!" Keiko did as she was instructed. Suddenly, a brunette girl appeared.
"I'm sorry about my brother. Was he in your way?"
"Not at all! But he was lucky that we didn't run over him! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Princess Kimi Watanabe. I'm on my way to the castle in London."
"Er...Your Highness, I'm sorry we were in your way," the girl answered. "My name's Lillian DeVille. This is my brother, Phil. Our father is the local physician."
Kimi answered, "Oh, I see. Um, we appear to be lost. Could you give me directions to the city gate?"
"Sure. Just keep going straight until you get to the woods. Then go left for about half a mile. You can't miss it," Lil instructed.
"Thank you!" Kimi bowed and stepped back into the carriage.
(at the castle, Tommy's view)
I lay on my canopy bed, thinking odd thoughts. My parents, the King and Queen, were told that an Asian princess was coming to marry me. Me! The eldest prince, the one who wished to never marry, and especially not to be part of an arranged marriage! My younger and only brother, Dil, was occupying the observatory on the castle roof, looking through his telescope. A knock came on my door. I opened it. Charles, my good friend and most loyal servant, stood there. "Your parents wish to speak to you in the throne room," he said.
"Thank you, I'll see them right away."
In the throne room, I walked nervously up to my parents. "You wished to see me?"
My mother answered, "Yes. Princess Kimi is here from Japan. Stand right where you are." I did as I was told. The princess shyly entered the room. She was beautiful enough, but I worried about her disposition. I only hoped that she wouldn't be a brat, like my cousin, Baroness Angelica. My father's voice said behind me, "Your wedding will take place in three weeks." Three weeks? Perfect. Just enough time for me to find a horse and run away to France or Spain or anywhere but here!
a/n: And this is only the beginning...
